burns



LAPHAM & BURNS.

Car Coupling. I No. 20,392. Patented May 25, 1858.

AM. PHOTO-LITHQCQNN. [OSRURNE'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. LAPHAM AND D. H. BURNS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES,

AND CHAS. A. DURGIN, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y.

RAILROAD-CAR COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,392, dated May 25, 1858'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALLEN LAPIIAM and DANIEL H. BURNS, of Brooklyn, Kings county, State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Car-Coupling for All Descriptions of Rail-Cars; and we do hereby declare the followlng to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, figures and letters of reference thereon, and making part of this speclncation. I

Of the said drawings Figure 1, is a side elevation of a car bumper. Fig. 2, is a vertical section showing the mechanism of our improved coupling. Fig. 3, is a horizontal transverse section.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.

Heretofore all devices of this character have been of ditlicult and complex construction, and when attached to cars were open to the objection of friction, ice, rust, and uncertainty of action from some of those causes.

The object and nature of our invention is to remedy these objections and produce an automatic coupling simple in construction and effectual in operation, and which can. easily be attached to all rail cars without alteration in their construction.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents the car bumper which is cast or made in halves with sufficient space inside to allow the proper attachment and working of the coupling mechanism.

B, is the link.

C is a hook which has a fulcrum at (a), and is so shaped as to readily admit the coupling link with the proper play, while the lower part projects back far enough to be struck by the knee of the lever D, at the point (0) when it is raised and the hook tilted so as to effectually release the link.

D is a crooked weight-ed lever having its fulcrum at (b), one end of which (f) supports and retains the hook securely when the link is inserted.

E is a projecting lug cast on the bumper which prevents the hook C, from backward motion beyond the proper point by force of the link during the coupling.

Operation: In Fig. 1, the link is shown as coupled, and to uncouple or release the link the lever D is raised (by means of a cord or other device) until the knee (it) strikes against the part of the hook (C), which tilts the hook and releases the link. We would here remark that during the draft of the car the strain is equalized by means of the hook C, being arranged atthe points (0 cl) to rest against the bumper, while the part of the hook next to (f) rests upon that part of the lever D as plainly shown in Fig. 2. To cou ple the car, the hook must be tilted by the lever D being raised to the highest point, which leaves the open part of the hook ready to receive the link, and from motion given the link in the direction to couple it, it strikes against the part of the hook (g), which being above the fulcrum is readily thrown back against the piece E when the lever D, drops by its gravity and securely holds the hook in position. We would here remark that when the lever D is raised it is held in position by means of the hook C resting at ((Z) against the part of the lever at (f), the gravity and friction of the lever and hook at those points producing this effect.

Having thus described our improved car coupling we will state what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

Te are aware that automatic car couplings have been used, examples of which may be seen in the patents of D. E. Pratt, Dec. 12th. 1848, and A. G. Safford, Dec. 11th, 18%9, and we therefore lay no claim to such; but

e claim A tilting hook and lever acting in combination. constructed substantially as described, whereby the coupling mechanism is rendered automatic and capable of being disconnected instantaneously irrespective of the tension or draft of cars substantially as set forth and specified.

ALLEN LAPHAM. DANIEL H. BUR-NS. [n s] \Vitnesses F. S. Born,

D. G. RowLANDs. 

